On Sunday afternoon, June 2nd, the Forest Hills Symphony Orchestra held a concert at the Forest Hills Jewish Center, filling the “Crystal Room” at 106-06 Queens Blvd. with around 100 guests or more.

Playing a wide variety of classical music from opera overtures, symphonies, laments, ballets and so forth, the Orchestra made sure to touch upon all the greats of classical music such as Rossini, Mozart, Chopin, Sibelius and Dawidziak.

“I thought it was a lovely performance,” said audience member Miriam Acosta. “There was so much synchronized energy and emotion behind the playing! You can tell from watching that the musicians are very much into it, and I think there’s something to be said for those who practice music when it’s not their profession.”

The 40-member Orchestra was quite diverse in their instruments and performers as they kept the standard orchestra set up and split performers between violin I, violin II, violas, cellos, flutes, oboes, clarinets, bassoons, French horns, trumpets and tympani.

The community group, in their 50th year, practices every Tuesday to prepare for three annual performances with musicians were from all around the New York City boroughs.

All in their older ages with the oldest performer in their 90s, the group is made up of first-timers, some who have played with the Orchestra since the 80s and they are constantly looking for new performers.

“The great thing about this is that it doesn’t matter how old you are, it makes you younger, literally“ said Franklin Verbsky, the music director and conductor in his 45th year with the orchestra. “As one of the performers said, ‘Before the program I watch you walking around, but once you’re up there you’re up there with the music, you’re twenty years younger!’ And that’s the whole thing.”

The performance left audience members in ferocious applause, excited and a bit sad to anticipate and wait for the next performance of the year.